Luminous tube mounting



2 Shes-Sheet' 1 w. o. PROUTY LUINOUS TUBE MOUNTING Filed Nov. 13, 1928 Aprl 24, 1934,

Patented Apr. 24, 1934;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ,956,o3 LUMINOUS MOUNTING Willis 0. Prouty, Herinosa Beach, Calif., assignor i to Mctlox Corporation, Ltd., Manhattan Beach, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 13, 1928, Serial No. 319,145 4 oaim' (c. 173-259) This invention relates to luminous tubes, such through that portion of the character into which as are now commonly used in connection with the end of the tube projects; illuminated signs or display apparatus; and par- Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7 are similar views of modified ticularly to the means for supporting these tubes structures; and 5 in a sign structure. such tubes utilize rarefled Fig. 6 is a detail of a tube clip for use in a 60 "gases, such as neon or helium energized by the device embodying my invention.

passage of anelectric current. In Fig. 1, I show a character 11 that can be such tubes, as is well known, operate on exmade from such material as clay or porcelain, tremely high potential differences; of the ordenof glazed on its upper surface. Above it is supported thousands of volts. Therefore the problem of in any appropriate manner, a luminous tube 12 05 leading in the connections to the tube electrodes outlining the character, and having inwardly exand of properly insulating these connections is of tending ends 13, 14:. In most cases, a continuous consderable importance. It is one of the objects tube length can be used to Outline more than one of my invention to make it possible efiectively to letter or character; and i that caSe;the ends 5 lead in the connections, as well as to insulate and 14 will be located on different characters. How- 70 support the tube at its ends in the structure. ever, th od Of supporting ese ends in the In my prior Patent #1,671fl41, issued May 29, ceramic characters can be the same in'either case. 1928, there is described a sign utilizing such In the form shown in Fig. 2, the inwardly luminous tubes in connection with letters or Charturned end 14 extends into the character 11 by acters made from comparatvely heavy ceramic Way Of a clearance aperture 15. At its extremity u material, the tube being supported above the it is shown as provided with an external electrode character and outlining it. The ends of the tube, 16, Of substantally the same diameter as the where the lead-in electrodes are located, extend tube w ver, my nventiomcan as wen b through the letter f r making it possible t utilized in connection with tubes having internal nect these electrodes to a source of potential. It electrodes. 'is another object of my invention to improve in An msulatof SleeVe 17, made a ple from general the support for these ends in the charporcelam 3' surrounds the d 1 and exacter; and especially to prevent any break tends for a considerable distance beyond the end in insulation, and also to provide a yie'ding grip Of the b a d toward the rear face of charfor the tube so that it can be tightly held even acter In this way, ood insulation of the tube in the event that there are slightirregmariti in end is Secured. This sleeve is held in place in a, the tube diameter deep recess 18 in the back of character 11, which It is another object of my invention to pro recess connects with clearance aperture 15. It a simple and efiective support for the tube above be keyed otherwise approprately held the character, and especially so that it can readily agamst remoV-al- In the form ShOWn I, Support 0 be arranged to compensate f r irreguarites in the sleeve resiliently by the aid of a resilient ring the height of the ceramic letter or character. 13519419 from rubbel' the like, tightly encom- My invention possesses many other advantages, PaSSmg the sleeve ThiS ring fits into an and has other objects which may be made more annular gTOOVe 20 in the peTDheTy Of eve 17, easily apparent from a consideration of several P forms reslient OT fiexible annular P embodiments of my invention. For this purpose 171011 011 SleeVe- A corresponding gr ove can I have shown a few forms in the drawings accombe formed in e internal m ar surface of panying and forming part of'the present specirecess 18, into whch this tin portion can cation. I shall now proceed to describe these be urged y axial v me t Of sleeve 17. Howforms in detail, which illustrate the general prin- Y 1 faclitate such aSSemblY I Prefer o pro- 9 ciples of my invention; but it is to be understood vide internal threads 21 in the recess 18, whereby that this detailed description is not to be taken a turnng v nt of sl v 17 will serve to adin a sense ince cope of my inven vance the ring 19 in the threads, into tion is best defned by the appended claims. iS ntendedvto fit rather y.

Referring to the drawings: The extension 14 of luminous tube 12 is ar- Figure 1 is a plan view of a ceramic character ranged to be spaced from the inner surface of equipped with a luminous tube and embodying sleeve 1'7; for this 'purpose I use a gasket Washer my invention; 22, which in this form is made of rubber or the Fig. Zisalongitudinal section, onalarger scale, like, that is tightly held .between the end of no accidental removal.

, actr 11.

silient washer 41 keyed into an external groove sleeve 17 and the bottom surface of recess 18. I purposely make the inside diameter of washer 22 slightly smaller than the diameter of tube 14 so that it tightly grips this tube and holds it centered in sleeve 17.

The insulated conductor or connector 23 for leading current to electrode 16 can be provided with a spring clip 24 that clasps the electrode and makes connection therewith. A snap spring 25 can be supported near the end of the conductor, having projections 26 arranged to snap into an internal groove 27 in sleeve 17, and thereby hold the conductor against accidental removal from the electrode 16.

It is evident that the structure as disclosed effectively prevents dirt or foreign material from entering into sleeve 17 from the front of the character 11, since gasket 22 effectively closes the annular space between the tube 12 and the sleeve 17. Furthermore, this is all accomplished in spite of irregularities in tube diameters. The tube itself is resiliently supported and is thus free from the danger of breakage. Lastly, it is apparent that a long "creepage surface" is provided against insulation breakdown; clear from inside of sleeve 17, over its lower edge, and out on the outside thereof.

In order to complete the disclosure, I indicate one way in which the character 11 can be mounted on a support, such as a sheet metal backing 28. There are a plurality of round, tapered recesses 29 'in the reverse face of character 11, into which is placed the head of a fastening device, such as a screw 30. Soft metal 31, such as lead or Babbitt metal, can then be molded around the screw 30 to fill up the recess and to fasten this screw in place. A felt or rubber washer 32 can be interposed between the character 11 and support 28. screw 30 can pass through the support 28 and can be tghtened as by a lock washer 33 and nut 34.'. sleeve 17 passes through a clearance aperture 37 inthe support 28.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the recess '35 .that accommodates the end of sleeve 17 is provided merely with a continuous groove 36, into which the ring 19 slips, to key the sleeve 17 against The location of this groove is such that when the looking is eifected, the gasket washer 22 will be rmly held as before, be-

tween the end of sleeve 17 and the bottom oi' recess 35.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the sleeve 38,

figures, has an enlarged head 39 that fits into a large-recess 40 in the front side of the char- It is held in place resiliently by a rei'n the sleeve, and clamped between the support 28 and the reverse side of character 11. The extension 14 is resiliently gripped by a gasket washer 42 Sprung into place in an internal groove 43 near the upper end of tube 14.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the ceramic character 11 is provided as before, with a clearance aperture 44 communicating with a larger diameter recess 45. In this instance, sleeve 46,' the equivalent of sleeve 17, is cemented, as by hydraulic cement, into this recess, the cement being indicated at 48. A ring 47 is positioned in recess 45 'and is held in place between the shoulder formed around aperture 44 and the top of sleeve 46. This ring can be made from ceramic material. The tube extension 14 passes 'through a clearance hole in the ring 47. A tube 54 disposed around extension 14 can be used t center it in the ring 47. This tube can be made from hard or soft rubber, and wedged in the annular space between the ring 47 and tube extension 14.

This structure is advantageous for reasons now to be pointed out. If tube extension 14 should be not very accurately bent to place it exactly in the center of aperture 44, the ring 47, having a considerable clearance in recess 45, can nevertheless be adjusted therein so as to be central with regard to this extension, even if it be eccentric with respect to recess 45 and aperture 44. After this adjustment of ring 47 is accomplished, the cement 48 can be poured into recess 45.

Tube extension 14 is shown with the external electrode 16. To this can be connected a long fiexible lead 50, that is connected in turn to the conductor 51. This conductor is preferably held against axial movement in sleeve 46. For example, it can be provided with a wedge sleeve 52 that can be urged between the conductor 51 and the constricted opening 53 of the sleeve 46. This sleeve 52 can be glazed into the opening 53 if desired. 'Apertures 55 can also be provided .in the sleeve 46 for ventilating purposes.

In order to assemble the device, the electrode 16 is first connected to lead 50 before sleeve 46 is cemented in place. The tubing 12 can be removed and replaced at will from sleeve 46 even after this sleeve is cemented in place. This is due to the fact that lead 50 is made long enough to permit the lead 50 to extend out of aperture 44 and to be fastened to electrode 16 even when extension 14 is entirely out of that aperture.

11 has an uneven thickness. To hold tubing 12 thereover so that this tubing stays parallel to the main support, the supporting clips 56 '(Fig. 1) must have a length that varies in accordance with this variation in thickness. I provide a clip structure that can readily be made correct in length to secure this result.

Thus I show a stud 57 (Figs. 5 and 6) having at its upper extremity the spring prongs 58 arranged to encompass the tube 12. This stud has a lower extremity provided with threads 59 for a considerable axial distance. It engages-a nut 60 embedded in a recess 61 in the upper face of character 11, in a manner similar to the embedding of screw 30 of Fig. 2. The stud 57 is purposely made long, so 'that when the tubing is being constructed, it can be cut ofi at its threaded extremity as by pliers to provide the correct space between the upper surface of character 11 and the tubing 12. It is thus a simple matter to compensate for variations in the thickness of character 11. i

In Fig. 7, I show still another form of mounting. In this form, the sleeve 62 is cemented with the recess 45, without the interposition of a ring such as 47. Instead, there is a spring connection clip 63 frictionally engaging the electrode 16 that also serves to hold the extension 14 in place. A hard rubber collar 64 closes the clearance aperture 44. Spring clip 63 is held in place in the bottom of sleeve 62 as by a binding post 65 that passes through the closed bottom of the sleeve 62, and that also eectively serves as a connection means to the fiexible insulated lead 66.

I claim:

1. In combination, a luminous tube having an extension, a support for the luminous tube, said support having an aperture into which the extension of the tube can be passed, the end of the extension having a. conductor fastened thereon for leading current into the tube, an insulation sleeve encircling the conductor, and extending a considerable distance beyond the conductor, and means for holding the sleeve on the support, including a. resilient ring keying the sleeve into the aperture.

2. In combination, a luminous tube having an extension, a support for the lum'nous tube, said support having an aperture into which the extension of the tube can be passed, the end of the extension having a conduotor fastened thereon for leading current into the tube, an insulation sleeve encircling the conductor, and extending a considerable distance beyond the conductor, means for holding the sleeve on the support, including a. resilientiing keying the sleeve into the aperture, and a resilient Washer fastened into the aperture and gripping the tube.

3. In combination, a thick insulation support having an aperture and an' nlarged recess communicating with the aperture, said recess opening on the reverseside of said support, a. fieiible Washer in the recess, an insulation sieeve in the recess and holding the wsher in place in the bottom of the `reeess, and means keying the sleeve in the recess.

4. In combination, a thick insulation support having an aperture and an enlarged recess communicating with the aperture, said recess opening on the reverse side of said support, a flexible Washer in the recess, an insulation sleeve in the recess and holding the Washer in place in the bottom ofthe recess. and a. resilient band arranged in@ groove in the-recess and also engaging in a grjoove in the periphery of the sleeve.

WILLIS 0. mom. V 

